Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Hey folks! I know it's been a bit since the last monster post and I just wanted to update you on some news.

First and foremost, some blog news. Next week is a FULL week of
BRAND NEW NYARLATHOTEP COLLABORATIONS! Authors Nathan Ballingrud,
Kaaron Warren and Simon Strantzas created their own versions of the
Crawling Chaos for me to illustrate. Not only that, but there will be
two brand new avatars created by Jason McKittrick and myself!! Secondovly, Seventh Church Ministries now has it's own site! It's still a bit under construction but the framework is there. You can look at past issues of Illustro Obscurum and other artists books. Not only that but you super collectors can see pertinent printing info like, dates, editions and numbers. I also have some super amazing news that I can't get into too much, but I'll be illustrating a story for Scott Nicolay! Sam at Dim Shores is putting out a chapbook of Scott's super ominous tale after. I'll be doing the cover and three interior illustrations! Scott is one of my favorite contemporary writers, so this is an honor and a blast. I'll post the actual illustrations once I have clearance.

Friday, July 10, 2015

"This is the name of a curious humanoid monster in the folklore of the Volga region of Russia. The Palesmurt is described as looking like a human but having only one half of the body, one arm and hand, one leg and foot and a head with only one eye. This horrific being trapped unwary travelers in his territory and choked them to death."

Thursday, July 9, 2015

"He had not the courage
to look at them; he only saw one uncouth monster standing by the wall, with long, shaggy hair and two flaming eyes."

Nikolai Gogol, The Viy

"A few sources note that the spirit had tiny horns and a tail or horse ears;"Linda J. Ivantis, Russian Folk Beliefs

"Commonly, it was said that he resembled a dwarf-like old man, with tangled locks and a shaggy beard that hid his face, apart from a pair of bright eyes, and soft fur that covered his body, including the palms of his hands and soles of his feet. Hirsuteness was a characteristic feature of demonic beings in general and may be connected with the pictorial representation of devils in icons."Elizabeth Warner, Russian Myths

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

"But when the Captain lifted up the icons, at once the Cossack's face completely changed: his nose grew longer and twisted to one side, his rolling eyes turned from brown to green, his lips turned blue, his chin quivered and grew pointed like a spear, a tusk peeped out of his mouth, a hump appeared behind his head, and the Cossack turned into an old man. "

Nikolai Gogol, A Terrible Vengeance

"As a priest intoned 'Christ has arisen' for the first time during the procession around the church, the wizards would be revealed to the holder of the egg with their backs to the altar (and complete with devilish horns)."

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

"All these monsters stared about seeking him, but they
could not find him, since he was protected by his sacred circle."

Nikolai Gogol, The Viy

"In appearance, the vodyanoi resembled a repulsive old man with hirsute body and long, matter hair and beard. It was frequently suggested that, like the devils in Russian icons, he looked black or that is body-hair was black. Some physical details, on the other hand, suggested the influence of the watery milieu in which he lived. Thus, his hair might be green or he might have webbed feet, a fishy tail, scaly skin. "Elizabeth Warner, Russian Myths

"This is the name of a dangerous water being in the folklore and traditions of Russia. The Vodianoi, also called Vodyanoi, Vodyanoy or Vodnik, is variously described as an old man with a blue face, white beard and green hair; an old man covered in scales or fur with huge paws, glowing eyes, horns and a tail; or entirely as a grotesque fish."

Monday, July 6, 2015

NIXIE"He saw a water-nixie rise from a bed of tall reeds; she turned to
him, and her face was clearly visible, and she sang a song which penetrated his soul; then she approached him and
nearly reached the surface of the water, on which she burst into

laughter and again disappeared."

Nikolai Gogol, The Viy

"The females are described as being beautiful women above the waist and having the tail of a fish in the manner of a mermaid, but the nix usually inhabits freshwater."

"However, in the Slavic mythology of eastern Europe, the female beings are described as resembling the Siren of classical mythology, with the torso and head of a woman but the legs and wings of a birds."